Scans have revealed that Francois Louw’s neck injury is not as serious as initially feared and the flanker will be available for the Springboks’ tour to Europe.

Louw hurt his neck in a Premiership game over the weekend, and Bath coach Gary Gold said afterwards that the injury looked serious. However, following scans and tests on Monday, Gold told Beeld that the injury has nothing to do with the flanker’s veterbrae, and Louw just has a stiff neck.

Gold suggested that Louw could even be utilised in Bath’s Premiership match against London Welsh this Sunday. It bodes well for the Boks’ tour, which starts next week with a fixture against Ireland in Dublin.